Building Setbacks & Zoning in Sunnyvale, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Sunnyvale, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Sunnyvale sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks by zoning district in Table 19.34.030 of the zoning code. A standard R-1 single-family lot needs a 15-foot front yard, 6 feet on each side (20 feet combined) and a 20-foot rear yard, with side yards instead calculated as 20% of lot width where that exceeds the flat minimum.
Sunnyvale Yard Setback Minimums by Zone
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA Municipal Code § 19.34.020, § 19.34.030 and Table 19.34.030 (Chapter 19.34, Front, Side and Rear Yards)
§ 19.34.020. Conformance required. The minimum front yard, side yards, rear yard and distance between buildings of and on each lot in every zoning district shall conform with the distances specified in the table of required yards in this chapter unless increased, decreased or modified by special provisions. Yard distances, unless otherwise specified, are expressed in terms of lineal feet. § 19....
Structure Height Limits
Sunnyvale caps single-family homes in the R-0 and R-1 districts at 30 feet and two stories, per Table 19.32.020 in Municipal Code Chapter 19.32. Multi-family R-3 buildings top out at 35 feet, R-4 and R-5 at 55 feet, while commercial C-2/C-3 buildings may reach 75 feet, all measured under the same conformance standard.
Sunnyvale Residential Building Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale Municipal Code § 19.32.010; § 19.32.020(a), Table 19.32.020
The maximum building height and maximum lot coverage of and on each lot in every zoning district shall conform with the areas, distances and percentage herein specified in the table of building height and lot coverage... Table 19.32.020: R-0: Building Stories 2, Building Height (ft.) 30. R-1: Building Stories 2, Building Height (ft.) 30. R-3: Building Stories 3, Building Height (ft.) 35. R-4: B...
Lot Coverage Limits
Sunnyvale caps lot coverage for single-story homes in the R-0, R-1 and R-2 districts at 45 percent of the lot and two-story homes at 40 percent, under Table 19.32.020 of Municipal Code Chapter 19.32. R-1.5 and R-1.7/PD lots are capped at 40 percent regardless of story count, while most commercial and industrial districts allow 35 to 45 percent.
Sunnyvale Maximum Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale Municipal Code § 19.12.130(16); § 19.32.020, Table 19.32.020
"Lot coverage" means the land area covered by all buildings on any lot, as computed from the outside dimension of each building, including corridors, supporting columns and unsupported wall projects, and enclosed and unenclosed roofed patios where the roof is more than 50% solid. The following shall not be calculated in lot coverage percentages: eaves; uncovered balconies, porches and stairways...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sunnyvale city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Santa Clara County →